Final showings on Tuesday

EDGEWATER — The curtains will close Tuesday night on the movie theater that sits along the Hudson River.

The Multiplex Showcase Cinemas is closing due to undisclosed "business circumstances." Despite its last day looming, business went on as usual Monday afternoon, and it intends to continue through its last showing of "Nobody's Fool," which starts at 10:10 p.m. Tuesday.

"It has been a pleasure to serve the Edgewater Community," a message on the theater's website said. "We thank the community for its patronage and support of our cinema for all these years."

At about noon Monday, the only sign of the theater's closing was on the parking lot marquee. At the bottom of the list of movies currently showing was a message. "Will close November 13. Thanks for the support."

The 16-screen theater is owned by National Amusements Inc., which operates more than 950 theaters in the United States, the United Kingdom and Latin America, according to its website.

National Amusements did not return calls for comment.

The Multiplex Cinemas in Edgewater is closing on Nov. 13.(Photo11: Kristie Cattafi/NorthJersey.com)

North Bergen resident Alexandra Rodriguez, 25, made it a point to go to the theater Monday. She said her earliest memories of going to the movies was at the Edgewater Showcase when she was around 7 or 8 years old.

Returning to the theater made her reminisce about the first time her parents dropped her and her friend off to see a movie for the first time. They were 10 years old and saw "Ratatouille."

"When I saw the news, I knew I had to come today," Rodriguez said. "It's bittersweet. I just hope they don't replace it with more housing or hotels."

Michael McPartland, Edgewater's mayor, said he was also disappointed when he heard the theater was closing and that he enjoyed going there.

"I know the company has been selling properties around the United States," he said. "Millennials just aren't going to the movies anymore. If it was up to me, I would love to see them stay."

The news also didn't come as a surprise for Rodriguez. Since the movie theater opened in 2000, the ticket prices had increased, but the theater didn't keep up with nearby theaters in upgrades such as reclining seats, she said.

Last week, Tenafly's Bow Tie Cinemas — a staple in town since the 1920s — locked its doors and took down its signs after a dispute with the borough.

If Tenafly officials designated the Railroad Avenue property as a historic landmark, it would force the theater out of business, said Ben Moss, owner and CEO of Bow Tie Cinemas.

Ree Bryceland and Joan Palermo of West New York were looking forward to going to the theater more often now that they both are recently retired. "It's a shame. We don't need more residential condos here," Bryceland said. "This really was a resource to the community."

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In recent years, movie theaters have evolved to be luxury experiences by offering leather reclining seats, alcohol and dinner menu options instead of just popcorn and candy.

In Fort Lee, iPic theaters opened in 2016. The theater has a full kitchen and bar, and food is delivered to the seats. Last year, Hackensack's Riverside Square mall also opened an AMC dine-in theater with a bar.

Older theaters, like Ridgefield Park's AMC Starplex, have renovated to keep up with the trends. The Ridgefield theater has leather reclining seats and has added more technology upgrades such as self-serve ticket computers.

Bryceland and Palermo said they wouldn't bother going to another Bergen County theater. Instead they prefer a smaller theater feel, as in Hoboken, or would even prefer heading into Manhattan, Palermo said.

The small-theater atmosphere and variety of closed-caption options was why senior citizens Natalie and Ken came to the theater. Natalie, a Fort Lee resident, was outside taking pictures of the theater, where she said they shared their first date 18 years ago.

Inside, she also took a picture of the ticket employee who said Natalie was a regular and that he would miss seeing her.

"We would love coming here and taking walks along the river," Natalie said. "Everyone here was always nice. I wish them all luck."

No plans for the future of the property have been submitted to the borough, McPartland said. He said the area is zoned for mixed use and not high-rise buildings.